The Roman World Takes Shape
Geography
helped to
unify Rome
Unlike Greece, Italy
was not broken into
small valleys or divided
by rugged mountains.
Broad fertile plains to
the north and west
supported a growing
population.
The Italian
peninsula
was centrally
located in the
Mediterranean
Sea.
City on seven hills
About 800 B.C., the Latins migrated to Italy and settled
along the Tiber River.
• Greek colonists to the south and Etruscans in
the north shared the peninsula and contributed
engineering and religious ideas to Roman civilization.
• Legend says Rome was founded by twin brothers,
Remus and Romulus, the sons of a Latin woman and the
god Mars, giving Romans divine origins.
In 509 B.C., the Romans drove out the Etruscan rulers and
established a republic.
A republic: from the Latin Laws were made by 300 landres publica, “that which
holding, upper-class
belongs to the people,”
patricians who made up the
where people chose some
Senate.
of the officials.
The Romans felt a republic would prevent too much power
from going to any one individual.
Two patricians were selected to supervise the government and
command the army each term.
These two consuls only
served one term and
checked or limited each
other’s power.
In times of war, a single
dictator was given power,
but only for six months.
The model dictator was Cincinnatus, who won a great
battle, celebrated, and returned to his farm, all in 15 days.
The legacy of ancient Rome was to give commoners a voice in
government and safeguards on their rights.
Made more democratic
A majority of the
people were plebeian
artisans, farmers, and
merchants. (little influence)
Plebeians demanded
the ability to question
patrician judges.
Plebeians elected
tribunes who could
veto laws.
Laws were inscribed
on stone tablets and
placed in the forum
(marketplace) for all to
read.
• First time written
down
• Made it possible for
plebeians to appeal
judgment handed
down by a judge
• What was the makeup of the family in Roman
life? Who was in charge?
• Male had absolute power, strict discipline,
demanded total respect
• Wife subject to his authority and not allowed
to administer her own affairs
• Woman was loving, dutiful, dignified, and
strong
• What rights and freedoms did Roman women
gain over time?
• Right to own property, go to public baths, dine
out, attend pubic entertainment with
husbands, learn to read and write
• Always had more rights than Greek women
though
Roman power grew over time. By 270 B.C. Rome had
conquered the entire peninsula.
Roman armies were:
•
Made up of citizen soldiers
•
Paid with a portion of the spoils
•
Organized into 5,000 man legions
Roman citizens made good soldiers because they
were raised to value courage, loyalty and to
respect authority.
Romans treated most conquered people well.
People were generally allowed to keep their customs, religion,
money, and local government.
Some were granted full or partial Roman citizenship.
Some were allowed to marry Roman citizens and
trade in Rome.
As a result, many remained loyal to Rome.
•Had to acknowledge Roman leadership, pay taxes, and supply soldiers for
Roman army
Rome took measures to consolidate its empire.
Soldiers were posted throughout the land.
Engineers built a system of all-weather roads.
Trade and travel were encouraged, leading to the incorporation
of Latin into the language of local peoples.
Slowly, Italy united under Roman rule.
The family was the basic unit of Roman society.
•
The male head of the household had absolute
authority.
•
Women could own property
and run businesses, but most
worked at home.
• Children were educated.
The wealthy often hired
Greek tutors.
Roman mythology was similar to that of Greece with
many gods and goddesses.
Jupiter
Juno
Neptune
Mars
Ruled over the sky
and other gods
The goddess of
marriage
The god of the seas
The god
of war
Zeus
Poseidon
• Was religion a unifying force in Roman
society?
• Community celebrations and festivals
provided a shared culture and a sense of
community